Mar 9, 2019; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Kira Lewis Jr (2) drives to the basket as forward Galin Smith (30) screens during the first half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State has reportedly made itself a player in the pursuit of one of college basketball’s most highly-touted transfers. Kira Lewis, a former Iowa State target in the class of 2018, announced his intention to transfer from Alabama on Tuesday and the Cyclones are amongst the host of programs already jockeying for his services on the hardwood.
Arizona, Uconn, Miami, Baylor, Providence, Northwestern, Pitt, Nevada, Iowa State, Indiana, Georgia, TCU and Auburn are also involved with top available transfer Kira Lewis https://t.co/mDHY0tvqPg
— Corey Evans (@coreyevans_10) March 27, 2019
Lewis, a former four-star prospect, averaged 13.5 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds as a freshman for the Crimson Tide. The 6-foot-3 Meridianville, Ala. native included Iowa State on his list of top-12 schools during his high school recruitment that saw him rated as the No. 39 player in the country and No. 9 point guard in the 2018 class.
Iowa State currently has one scholarship open following Cameron Lard’s decision to leave the program on Tuesday. The Cyclones were listed as a finalist for three-star French guard Clarence Nadolny earlier in the day on Wednesday.
There is still potential for more scholarships to open in the coming weeks depending on further attrition and players on the current roster’s professional prospects. Lewis is a sit-one, play-three transfer unless he were to be granted a hardship waiver by the NCAA.
It will likely be an uphill climb for the Cyclones with Lewis considering some of college basketball’s major players will be involved with his second recruitment. With that said, if Steve Prohm and his staff could somehow land Lewis, it would probably be one of the biggest splashes of the college basketball silly season.
